diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 65cd9e18e6..4d57585803 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ endif()
 project(circt LANGUAGES CXX C)
 
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 14)
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED YES)
 
 find_package(MLIR REQUIRED CONFIG)